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Regional POW: March 11-17

The Eagles had to be happy to see him back in the singles lineup. He went 6-0 last week in matches against Cal Lu, Skidmore, and Kenyon, winning comfortably in all of his singles matches, and teaming with Dillon Pottish to help Emory avoid the doubles sweep against Kenyon. Now, we’ll see what happens when he gets back up to #2 singles.

Honorable Mention: Dillon Pottish (Emory), Erik Lim (Johns Hopkins)

Central

Gary Parizher (Wash U)

Parizher

Kenyon, Wash U, and Case Western were the only Central region teams in action last week, and all three suffered disappointing losses. Kenyon produced a couple wins, but Parizher’s play was a significant bright spot in an otherwise disappointing week for Wash U. He won all three of his singles matches, including a 6-3 6-4 victory over 40th ranked Ben Hwang of Johns Hopkins. Perhaps the Bears will find a way to get Parizher in the doubles lineup after this weekend, as they came up just a couple matches short of a few big victories.

Honorable Mention: Kevin Ye (Kenyon)

Northeast

Chris Lord (Bowdoin)

Chris Lord

The Northeast award had to go to a Bowdoin player after their victory over Wash U. Chris Lord won all four of his matches last week for Bowdoin, including a three-set win over #18 CMS’ Mac Cahill and a clutch 6-3 7-6 (12-10) tiebreaker victory against #11 Wash U. He also picked up easy victories over #12 Trinity (TX) and #21 Carnegie Mellon.

Honorable Mention: Danny Knight (Skidmore)

West

Warren Wood and Alex Lane (CMS)

Wood went 4-0 at #1 singles and doubles against Hopkins and Bowdoin to lead the Stags to two huge bounce back victories. Both of his singles victories came the third set of 5-4 team victories. His doubles partner, Alex Lane, is equally worthy of the award, only his two singles victories came at #2 singles. After starting the season poorly, Lane clinched the victory for the Stags over Hopkins with a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 comeback victory over Hopkins’ Tanner Brown.

Conference tournament doesn’t do that much unless a player outside the top 8 reaches the finals. Then people would move. I believe Ballou was injured 2 years ago was ranked 8 and didn’t play and still didn’t move out of the top 8 and was gifted the spot to go to NCAA’s as the number 2 player on his team. Although he did have a good season to say the least the conference tournament doesn’t move players around that much.

Hate me for saying this, but come on. It’s really looking like Lipscomb should have played against Cal Lu. What was the reason not to? This is it: If lipscomb had lost to Ballou, he would have dropped 3 spots (Ballou, Frey, Myer possibly) and then possibly out of the top 8 because of Wood and Lane most likely moving ahead of him in the rankings. Potentially dropping 5 spots and out of National qualifying. I truly see Lipscomb not playing Cal Lu just for the sense of trying to hold a ranking and make it to Nationals at the end of the year. I have talked to many others and find it very shady that he didn’t play.

This is an example of an inflammatory comment that I will allow because the claim is backed up by a little analysis. I still disagree because I don’t think any coach would let a player not play in a crucial match for individual purposes, but at least this guy has a point. If he’s right, that’s really sad because a win over Cal Lu would probably be enough to get Redlands in Pool C

This is absolutely ridiculous, and d3tennisguy, you should be ashamed for not saying so. By this logic, we can expect to see Lipscomb out of the lineup against Whittier, Pomona, and CMS. Yes, even from my position as a player for a rival team, I see his absence as odd – but none of us would do this. Anyone who entertains the idea of this being true is slandering a guy who most of you have probably never met. Grow up and give the kid the benefit of the doubt (I still can’t believe I’m defending a Redlands player).

Lets not forget that tennis is an INDIVIDUAL sport put together into a team sport. There is no individual basketball or individual baseball tournaments that mean just as much as an individual or doubles title compared to the team tournament. Grand slams are held higher in praise than what a Davis cup title would mean to someone.

The coach didn’t have to “know” that he wasn’t actually hurt. It seems like he was perfectly okay because he took a set off of Williams #1. I’m not accusing or making permanent accusations here, but I am saying that these thoughts could have a little bit of truth and possibility.

Being a freshman and having the chance to go to the NCAA’s is a big deal. Yes yes he does not want to put his team in a bad position to not qualify but it seems like Redlands was already in a position in which they would not qualify because of the conference team tournament wouldn’t go their way and Pomona would already be ahead of them in the rankings as well. CMS, PP, Cal Lu would be in the running for Pool C and other teams ranked ahead of Redlands would be too.

I’m just saying…I’m not accusing. Just thinking outside the box and considering all possibilities.

Wiechert out west still hasn’t lost a singles match since Indoors. And he avenged that loss recently. Doubles is really important, but sometimes such dominance should be recognized. I know he was the “co” last week, but seriously, with PP’s schedule, he’s killing it against great players.

I don’t understand the problem. Wiechert has been recognized, but Lipscomb just lost his first match today. Lipscomb plays 1, and Redlands’ schedule is about as difficult as PP’s, so he’s killing it against better players. Wiechert is having a great season, but if I had been forced to pick just one of them, I would have taken Lipscomb.